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ANCA: Joe Biden Cosponsors Armenian Genocide Resolution

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  • ANCA: Joe Biden Cosponsors Armenian Genocide Resolution

    Armenian National Committee of America
    1711 N Street, NW
    Washington, DC 20036
    Tel. (202) 775-1918
    Fax. (202) 775-5648
    [email protected]
    Internet: www.anca.org


    PRESS RELEASE
    January 23, 2008
    Contact: Elizabeth S. Chouldjian
    Tel: (202) 775-1918

    JOE BIDEN COSPONSORS ARMENIAN GENOCIDE RESOLUTION

    -- Influential Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman
    Adds New Energy to Adoption of Anti-Genocide Legislation

    WASHINGTON, DC - The highly regarded and influential chairman of
    the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Senator Joseph Biden (D-
    DE), a longtime supporter of U.S. recognition of the Armenian
    Genocide, officially announced his support yesterday for the
    Armenian Genocide Resolution (S.Res.106), reported the Armenian
    National Committee of America (ANCA).

    "Armenian Americans - and all those committed to forever ending the
    cycle of genocide - welcome Chairman Biden's principled support for
    Congressional reaffirmation of the Armenian Genocide, and thank him
    for his years of leadership in helping to put America back on the
    right side of this compelling moral and foreign policy issue," said
    ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian.

    Chairman Biden has long been a supporter of proper U.S.
    reaffirmation of the Armenian Genocide, cosponsoring legislation in
    successive sessions of Congress. Last year, he introduced
    legislation "condemning the murder of Turkish-Armenian journalist
    and human rights advocate Hrant Dink and urging the people of
    Turkey to honor his legacy of tolerance." The resolution,
    S.Res.65, noted that Dink was "subjected to legal action under
    Article 301 of the Turkish Penal Code for referring to the 1915
    massacre of Armenians as genocide." Chairman Biden also led Senate
    Foreign Relations Committee efforts to uncover the circumstances
    surrounding the firing of former U.S. Ambassador to Armenia John
    Evans, for properly characterizing the Armenian Genocide as a clear
    case of genocide.

    The Armenian Genocide Resolution calls upon the President to ensure
    that the foreign policy of the United States reflects appropriate
    understanding and sensitivity concerning issues related to human
    rights, ethnic cleansing, and genocide documented in the United
    States record relating to the Armenian Genocide. Senator Biden's
    decision yesterday brings the official Senate cosponsor list to 34.

    Introduced by Assistant Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Sen.
    John Ensign (R-NV), the legislation has the support of key Senate
    leaders including Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) and
    presidential candidate Hillary Clinton (D-NY). Earlier this week,
    Senator Barack Obama (D-IL), called for Congressional adoption of
    the legislation. "America deserves a leader who speaks truthfully
    about the Armenian Genocide and responds forcefully to all
    genocides. I intend to be that President," noted Sen. Obama.

    Similar legislation in the U.S. House (H.Res.106), spearheaded by
    Rep. Adam Schiff along with Representative George Radanovich (R-
    CA), Congressional Armenian Caucus Co-Chairs Frank Pallone (D-NJ)
    and Joe Knollenberg (R-MI), Rep. Anna Eshoo (D-CA) and Rep. Brad
    Sherman (D-CA), has over 200 cosponsors and was adopted by the
    House Foreign Affairs Committee in October 2007, despite Turkish
    threats, the strong opposition of the Bush Administration and
    personal lobbying by the President.

    Over the past year, Armenian Americans and human rights advocates
    have joined with Members of Congress in educating their colleagues
    about the Armenian Genocide and the importance of proper
    recognition of this crime against humanity. The ANCA has mounted
    several national grassroots initiatives including the highly
    successful "Click for Justice" and "Call for Justice" campaigns as
    well as the "End the Cycle of Genocide" Advocacy Days, cosponsored
    with the Genocide Intervention Network.

    #####

    PHOTO CAPTION: Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Joe
    Biden (D-DE) with ANCA Government Affairs Director Kate Nahapetian
    and Legislative Affairs Director Raffi Karakashian.
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